Shay nodded and headed for the edge of the school where she'd disappear into the treeline. She was quiet at least half the walk. She was focused on something; distant and in her head. She didn't look back at him either.
Kenta would notice when they were closing into the entrance of the forbidden forest. The area around them grew darker until no light at all showed through and the trees took on gnarled appearances, roots sticking from the ground like hands ready to drag the children down.
Shay stopped just as they met the beginning of the forbidden forest and looked back at Kenta. "Here."
He seemed concerned atleast a bit that she was so quiet. Maybe she wasn't ok... But he was sorta used to it from her by now. When everything started getting dark, he formed a blue flame in his hand to give them better light.
When she stopped, he smiled again. "It really is different. It almost seems like we're inside a cave."
"Yeah, I guess. It reminds me of the creepy forests in storybooks. The kind with the big bad monsters." She breathed in slowly and reached a hand out, fingertips touching the beginning of the forbidden forest. "I guess we just...go in, then?" Now her hesitation showed through.
Kenta nodded, clearly more excited than she was. "Yeah! Let's .. Oh, wait!" He reached his hands into his sleeves, and when they came out, he was wearing long black gloves.
"I got these after last time we hung out.. kinda wish I was wearing them earlier..."
Shay looked over at him. When she noticed the gloves, her face heated a little. That was...sweet, she supposed. "You really shouldn't have gone out of your way," was all she said, though.
With that, Shay stepped into the darkness. It didn't feel any different from the regular forest, it was a hint colder from the lack of sun, but otherwise most of her fear came from the forbidden forest's atmosphere. She strolled further in, certain something would be waiting for them, but there was no sound here. It was eerie.
"Its no big deal" He told her. If he had been wearing these before... Kenta, happy and clueless as ever, walked along beside her, resparking his little blue flame for light. It helped for seeing, but bathed the area in an arguably creepy blue glow.
Somewhere in the distance, a twig snapped, causing Shay to jump. She was on full alert now, but Kenta's blue light had only furthered the racing of her heart. "Put that out, Kenta, it's...creepy as all heck."
The further they traveled, the more sounds they heard. Subtle sounds, like stalking. They were being hunted. It was too quiet here. Shay wished she'd been smarter.
"Huh? Oh, um..." He let it flicker out, causing things to get much darker. Kenta had noticed the sounds as well, his ears twitching with each movement. He had his left hand covered by his sleeve. The more he heard, the more serious his look got. He looked... oddly calm. Not at ease but... Ready.
Shay subconsciously stepped closer to Kenta, that was safer, to stick close to the person you were traveling with. When they had gone far enough into the darkness that the regular forest wasn't visible anymore, a low, thick growl resonated all around them. It was feline in nature, but far more echoed. Shay wished she had a knife to reach for, or that she even owned a knife.
Kenta stopped and pulled his left hand from his sleeve and took her hand, placing his tanto into it. "So... Not just a spooky name I guess." He said. It sounded like a joke, but his tone didn't sell it well. He lit up his fire again, though he was searching for the beast with his ears, not his eyes.